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Protel 99 SETraining Manual

Design Explorerand

Document Editor Basics

Software, documentation and related materials:

Copyright © 2001 Protel International Limited.

All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication of the software, manual or relatedmaterials by any means, mechanical or electronic, including translation intoanother language, except for brief excerpts in published reviews, is prohibitedwithout the express written permissions of Protel International Limited.

Unauthorized duplication of this work may also be prohibited by local statute.Violators may be subject to both criminal and civil penalties, including finesand/or imprisonment.

Protel and the Protel logo are registered trademarks of Protel InternationalLimited. Design Explorer, SmartDoc, SmartTool, and SmartTeam and theirlogos are trademarks of Protel International Limited.

Microsoft, Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Access are registered trademarksof Microsoft Corporation. Orcad, Orcad Capture, Orcad Layout andSPECCTRA are registered trademarks of Cadence Design Systems Inc.AutoCAD is a registered trademark of AutoDesk Inc. HP-GL is a registeredtrademark of Hewlett Packard Corporation. PostScript is a registered trademarkof Adobe Systems, Inc. All other brand or product names are trademarks oftheir respective owners.

Design Explorer Training Manual i

Contents1 Introduction to the Design Explorer............................................................................. 12 Smart Technology........................................................................................................ 13 How to Work in Design Explorer ................................................................................ 1

3.1 The ‘Design’ Concept .............................................................................................. 13.2 Overview of the Environment.................................................................................. 33.3 Explorer Panel.......................................................................................................... 53.4 Design Window ....................................................................................................... 6

3.4.1 Folder View and Editor View .......................................................................... 63.4.2 Document Selection Options in the Folder View ............................................ 6

3.5 Right Click Menus in Folder View.......................................................................... 73.6 Right-Click Menu on Design Window Tabs ........................................................... 83.7 Document Finder ..................................................................................................... 9

4 Document Editor Overview ....................................................................................... 104.1 Menus..................................................................................................................... 104.2 Shortcut Keys and Pop-Up Menus......................................................................... 114.3 Toolbars ................................................................................................................. 114.4 Design Manager ..................................................................................................... 114.5 Status Bar ............................................................................................................... 114.6 Command Status Bar ............................................................................................. 124.7 Tool Tips................................................................................................................ 124.8 Right Mouse Pop-up Menu.................................................................................... 124.9 Dialog Boxes.......................................................................................................... 12

5 Design Explorer System Menu .................................................................................. 135.1 Servers.................................................................................................................... 135.2 Customise............................................................................................................... 145.3 System Preferences ................................................................................................ 145.4 Design Utilities ...................................................................................................... 145.5 Auto Save............................................................................................................... 16

6 Designs and Documents............................................................................................. 186.1 Creating a New Document In a Design.................................................................. 196.2 Renaming Documents............................................................................................ 196.3 Importing a File into a Design ............................................................................... 206.4 Editing Non-Protel Documents.............................................................................. 206.5 Linking to an External Document.......................................................................... 206.6 Exporting Documents from the Design ................................................................. 216.7 Working with Existing Protel Designs .................................................................. 21

7 Design Team Concepts .............................................................................................. 227.1 Determining Levels of Access ............................................................................... 237.2 Restricting and/or Expanding Access Levels......................................................... 257.3 Multiple Access Levels for the Same Member...................................................... 257.4 Monitoring Opened Documents............................................................................. 267.5 Locking a Document.............................................................................................. 267.6 Libraries ................................................................................................................. 26

8 Customisation of Toolbars, Menus and Shortcut Keys.............................................. 28

Design Explorer Training Manualii

8.1 Selecting a Resource Editor ...................................................................................288.2 Processes and Parameters.......................................................................................298.3 Creating a New Menu, Toolbar or Shortcut Key Menu .........................................32

9 Text Editor .................................................................................................................339.1 Searching................................................................................................................349.2 Location Markers ...................................................................................................349.3 Syntax Highlighting ...............................................................................................34

10 Schematic Editor Basics.............................................................................................3510.1 View Commands ................................................................................................3610.2 Location Markers ...............................................................................................3710.3 Selection .............................................................................................................3710.4 Focus ..................................................................................................................3810.5 Other mouse actions: ..........................................................................................3910.6 Multiple Objects at the Same Location ..............................................................4010.7 Exercise – Schematic Editor Basics ...................................................................40

11 Schematic Graphical Objects .....................................................................................4211.1 Summary of Graphical Objects ..........................................................................43

11.1.1 Lines ...............................................................................................................4311.1.2 Polygons .........................................................................................................4311.1.3 Arcs ................................................................................................................4311.1.4 Elliptical Arcs.................................................................................................4311.1.5 Bezier Curves .................................................................................................4411.1.6 Annotation (Text)...........................................................................................4411.1.7 Multi-Line Text Frames .................................................................................4411.1.8 Rectangles ......................................................................................................4511.1.9 Rounded Rectangles .......................................................................................4511.1.10 Ellipses .......................................................................................................4511.1.11 Pie Shapes ..................................................................................................4511.1.12 Graphical Images........................................................................................4511.1.13 Paste Array .................................................................................................46

11.2 Font Management...............................................................................................4711.3 Exercise – Schematic Graphical Objects............................................................47

12 Schematic Electrical Objects......................................................................................4812.1 Summary of Electrical Objects...........................................................................49

12.1.1 Wires ..............................................................................................................4912.1.2 Buses ..............................................................................................................4912.1.3 Bus Entries .....................................................................................................4912.1.4 Net Labels.......................................................................................................5012.1.5 Power Ports ....................................................................................................5012.1.6 Ports................................................................................................................5112.1.7 Parts................................................................................................................5112.1.8 Sheet Symbols ................................................................................................5212.1.9 Sheet Entries...................................................................................................5212.1.10 Junctions.....................................................................................................5212.1.11 No-ERC......................................................................................................5312.1.12 PCB Routing Directives .............................................................................53

Design Explorer Training Manual iii

12.1.13 Probe and Stimulus Directives................................................................... 5313 PCB Editor Basics...................................................................................................... 54

13.1 View Commands................................................................................................ 5513.2 Location Marks .................................................................................................. 5713.3 Exercise - PCB Editor View Commands ........................................................... 5713.4 Focus .................................................................................................................. 5713.5 Selection............................................................................................................. 58

13.5.1 Paste Special .................................................................................................. 5913.5.2 Query Manager............................................................................................... 60

13.6 Other Mouse Operations .................................................................................... 6013.7 Multiple Objects at the Same Location.............................................................. 6113.8 Jump Menu ........................................................................................................ 6113.9 Exercise – PCB Basics....................................................................................... 62

14 PCB Design Objects .................................................................................................. 6314.1 General Notes..................................................................................................... 6314.2 Summary of PCB Design Objects...................................................................... 64

14.2.1 Tracks............................................................................................................. 6414.2.2 Pads................................................................................................................ 6714.2.3 Vias ................................................................................................................ 6814.2.4 Strings ............................................................................................................ 6914.2.5 Fills ................................................................................................................ 7114.2.6 Arcs ................................................................................................................ 7214.2.7 Keepout Objects............................................................................................. 7314.2.8 Room Definition ............................................................................................ 73

15 Cross Probing............................................................................................................. 7416 Using the Help System............................................................................................... 75

16.1 Help Menu ......................................................................................................... 7516.2 Help Adviser ...................................................................................................... 77

17 Using the Protel Web Site.......................................................................................... 77

Design Explorer Environment 1

1 Introduction to the Design ExplorerDesign Explorer is an integrated environment for Electronics design. It provides tools for alltasks from schematic entry, simulation through to PCB design. It also provides the ability tomanage complete design projects involving design teams. In addition, the environment can becustomised to meet a wide variety of user requirements.

2 Smart TechnologyProtel 99 is built on Protel’s Smart integration technologies i.e. SmartTool, SmartDoc andSmartTeam.

• SmartTool is the Client/Server technology that brings all design tools together into asingle user interface. These tools include the Schematic Editor, Mixed Signal CircuitSimulator, PLD Compiler, PCB Placement and Routing and PCB Signal IntegrityAnalysis. SmartTool technology also integrates Active Doc compliant editors. Theseinclude Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and AutoCAD.

• SmartDoc technology resolves the task of document management. With SmartDoc all theDesign documents associated with your project (eg Schematics, PCB’s, Libraries, BOMReports) are arranged together into a Design.

• SmartTeam technology allows you to control how users get access to documents in yourDesign project.

Protel 99 brings these three technologies together in the Design Explorer

Design Explorer configures the interface to suit the document you are working on. Forexample if you open a Schematic sheet, appropriate toolbars, menus and shortcut keys areactivated. This feature means that you can switch from routing a PCB to calculatingmanufacturing costs in a spreadsheet to running a transient circuit analysis without having tochange editors: simply click on the next document you wish to work on.

3 How to Work in Design Explorer

3.1 The ‘Design’ ConceptDesign Explorer allows you to access all documents related to a design via its user interface.Design Explorer provides the option of either storing all documents related to a Design in asingle database file or to store the documents in the Windows File System. Regardless of thestorage method, the user interface is the same. When you first create a new Design, you aregiven the option of choosing the Design Storage Type.

If you choose the storage method of a single database file, all documents that make up yourdesign, such as schematics, PCB’s, BOM reports and even AutoCAD drawings are stored inthis design database file. This file uses the MS Access Database format and has the defaultextension of ‘.DDB’.

Documents in the Design can be arranged into folders in a manner similar to arranging files inWindows Explorer directories.

2 Design Explorer Environment

Files can be included into a database using import. Documents in a database can be exportedas files.

With a Windows File System storage method design, all the documents and folders aredisplayed in Windows Explorer.

Figure 1 Windows Explorer view of a Windows File System design

With a Database storage method design, only the .ddb file from a Design is displayed inWindows Explorer.

Figure 2 Windows Explorer view of a Database design


3.2 Overview of the EnvironmentThe Design Explorer environment consists of 2 main elements: the Design Manager Panel andthe Design Window. The Design Window can display in Folder View or in Editor View asshown. These views are described below:

• Folder View This view displays icons representing the documents or folders within thecurrent folder. Double-click on these icons to display the Editor View of a document or theFolder View of a folder.

• Editor View This view displays the document in its editor. E.g. PCB Editor for a PCBdocument, Schematic Editor for a schematic document.

The Design Manager Panel displays the Explorer tab when the Design Window displays aFolder View. The Explorer tab allows you navigate into Databases currently open in DesignExplorer. It operates in the same manner as the All Folders panel the Windows Explorer.

When the Design Window displays an Editor View of a document, the Design Manager has anadditional tab; the Browse tab for whichever editor is currently active. Clicking on the Browsetab will display the Editor Panel for that editor.

Figure 3 Design Manager and Design Window in Folder View

Design Manager Panel Design Window in Folder View

Explorer Tab

Icons representingdocuments and folders


Figure 4 Design Manager and Design Window in Editor View

Folders and documents that are open are allocated a Tab at the top of the Design Window.

Figure 5 Design Window Tabs

Note: When an existing Design is opened, documents in that design that were active in editorswhen the design was last opened, will again be active. To avoid this, hold the Ctrl key whileopening the design.

Opening an Existing Design

The database Z80 Microprocessor.ddb is located in the Examples folder of the DesignExplorer directory.

Follow the steps below to locate and open the database and in the process learn to use theOpen Design Database dialog box.

Steps:1. Select the File » Open menu to display the Open Design Database dialog box.


We now need to navigate to the Examples directory the Design Explorer 99 SE directory.

2. Locate Z80 Microprocessor.ddb and double-click on it

The Design will now be listed in the Navigation Tree on the left side of the screen and willhave a + sign next to it.

3. Click on the + sign to expand its contents

4. Click on any other plus signs to expand folder contents

You will notice that you now have a number of – signs in the directory tree

5. Click on the – signs to contract the folders

3.3 Explorer PanelThe Explorer Panel is displayed by clicking on the Explorer tab of the Design Manager.

• To expand a branch and view lower level folders, click on the Plus sign to the left of thefolder icons.

• When a folder is expanded the Plus sign turns to a minus sign. Clicking the minus signwill collapse the branch again.

• Click and drag to move folders in the Navigation Pane to another location - even toanother Design Database.

• Click on a Folder icon in the Explorer Panel and the contents of the folder willappear in the Design Window. A Tab for that folder will be displayed at the top of theDesign Window.

• Click on a document icon in the Explorer Panel to activate its editor: e.g. click ona schematic document in the navigation tree and it will be displayed in the SchematicEditor.

Move, Copy or create Short Cuts to Folders Via Design Explorer Panel

• Right mouse click and hold on a folder

• Drag and drop onto another folder

• Release the mouse button to display the Move, Copyor Create Shortcut dialog box

• Select from the options


3.4 Design Window

3.4.1 Folder View and Editor View

The Design Window has a Folder view and multiple Editor views. The Folder View displaysthe contents of folders. Folder contents can be displayed as large icons, small icons, as a listor as a detailed list. Below is the folder view of the Z80 Microprocessor design displayed aslarge icons.

Figure 6 Folder View of Z80 Microprocessor .Ddb

3.4.2 Document Selection Options in the Folder View

Document and Folder icons can be selected for Click and Drag operations. One or more iconscan be selected by any of the options below:

• Click on an icon to select it.

• Shift+Click on an icon to select it and all other icons to the right of it in a particular row(Note! If you use this option when a icon is already selected, only the icons between theicon you Shift-Click on and the already selected icon will be selected.)

• Ctrl+Click on an icon to add it to the selected icons

• Ctrl+Click on an icon already selected to de-select it


3.5 Right Click Menus in Folder View

Right Click on a Folder

1. Right click on a folder or document icon in theDesign Window to display this menu.

2. Select options from the menu

Right Click Elsewhere

Right click on a vacant space in the DesignWindow to display this menu.

This second menu enables you to create newdocuments or folders, import documents, link toexternal documents, paste from the clipboard andchoose a viewing mode.

Click and Hold Menu

1. Click and hold on a document or a folder icon etc.

2. Drag it onto a destination folder

3. Release the right mouse button and choose from theMenu options that display (see left)


3.6 Right-Click Menu on Design Window Tabs

• Right click on a Document or Folder Tab at the top of the Design Window.

• Select Close from the menu.

Note! If you right click a DDB (include graphic) Folder Tab, the database will be removedfrom the navigation tree.

• Right Click on any Document or Folder Tab at the top of the Design Window pane

• Click on Tile All

Notice that all the opened documents and folders are displayed in multiple screens.

Note! The number of opened documents and folders determines the number of regions.

• Right-click on any one of the Tabs in the tiled display.

• Choose Merge All

Notice that you have converted a split screen back to a single view.

• Position the cursor at the point where two regions of a split screen meet ( a double-headedarrow will display)

• Click and drag to re-size


3.7 Document FinderThe document finder is invoked by selecting F3 or Ctrl + F.

This allows you to search the current design, your hard disk or your network for documents.


4 Document Editor OverviewTo display a document in its editor, click on a document icon in the Explorer Panel or double-click in a Folder View in the Design Window, and the document will be opened in theappropriate editor.

Note! When you create a new document in a Design you are required to select a documenttype e.g. Schematic, PCB.

The document type you select determines which Editor is assigned to the document.The following sections describe the various elements in editor view.

Open or create a document and the appropriate editor is activated. The sections below describethe various elements in the user interface of Design Explorer editors.

Figure 7 Schematic Editor

4.1 Menus• Protel menus are standard Windows menus.

• Menus are consistent across all editors in the Design Explorer.

• Standard operations e.g. opening, saving, cut, paste etc are consistent across editors

• Double-click on an empty space on the menu bar to edit it.

Menu

Editor Panel

FloatingToolbar

Toolbar

Pop-upMenu

Status Bar


4.2 Shortcut Keys and Pop-Up Menus• Menu commands can also be accessed using Shortcut Keys. The underlined letter (e.g.

press F for the File menu) indicates the Shortcut key for a menu command.

• Special shortcut keys give direct access to menus in the graphical editors e.g. pressing F inthe Schematic Editor will pop up the File menu, pressing T will pop the Tools menu.

4.3 Toolbars• Toolbars can be fixed to any side of the workspace or they can be floated (see floating

toolbar in figure above)

• Click and drag to move a toolbar (the cursor must be within the toolbar but not actually ona button)

• New toolbars can be created and existing toolbars edited.

• Multiple toolbars can be active

4.4 Design Manager• The Design Explorer and the currently active editor panel are combined into one panel

called the Design Manager.

• The Design Manager panel can be position on the left or right side of screen.

• The Browse tab in the Design Manager indicates which editor is currently in use i.e. if youare editing a Schematic sheet, the tab will say Browse Sch.

• Clicking on document icon in the explorer makes the document active.

• When a document is active it is allocated a Tab at the top of the Design Panel

• Click on the Explorer Tab or the Active Editor TAB in the Design Manager to activate it –you cannot activate both at the same time.

• Clicking and dragging on the side that touches the Design Window can adjust the width ofthe Design Manager.

4.5 Status Bar• The Status bar is used to display information to the user.

• The Status bar consists of three display fields whose positions are indicated by arrows inthe Status Bar. These fields are:1. Cursor position2. Prompt3. Options

• The Prompt and Options fields can be re-sized clicking and dragging on the arrows.

• The Status Bar is turned on and off using the menu command View » Status Bar.

• The Status Bar can be positioned at the top or the bottom of the Design by a click and dragoperation.


4.6 Command Status Bar• The Command Status Bar displays the name and action of the command currently being

executed.

• When turned on, the Command Status Bar is located below the Status Bar.

• The Status Bar is toggled on and off using the menu command View » Command Status.

• Most users choose to turn off the Command Status Bar.

4.7 Tool Tips• Provide a brief description of how to use a particular function.

• Position the cursor over a toolbar button and leave it stationary for about a second and thetool tip will appear.

• Tool Tips are turned on or off in the System-Preferences dialog box that displays when thePreferences command in the System menu (down arrow at the left side of the menu).

4.8 Right Mouse Pop-up MenuClicking the Right Mouse button in an Editor pops up a menu of commands at the currentcursor position.

Figure 8 Right Mouse Menu

4.9 Dialog BoxesDialog boxes are used to set the parameters for various commands.

To move from one field to another in a dialog box press the TAB key or use the mouse.SHIFT TAB takes you in the reverse direction.

Most fields will have an underlined character associated with them that can be pressed (incombination with the ALT key) as an alternative to a mouse click.

When a field is highlighted, typing on the keyboard can overwrite it.


5 Design Explorer System MenuThe System Menu provides commands for configuring theDesign Explorer. You can access these commands byclicking on the down pointing arrow located on theleft-hand side of the Menu. The System menu is alwaysaccessible in Design Explorer.

The following sections describe the entries in the Systemmenu.

5.1 ServersThe menu item is provided to enable the management of servers. Under normal usage ofeditors in Design Explorer, you should not need to install or remove servers. Installation andremoval is performed from the EDA Servers dialog box shown below which is displayed byselecting the Servers command from the System menu.

To install a server, Right Click and then choose Install. This displays the EDA Servers dialogbox from which you locate and select the server install file (servername.ins). This wouldnormally be located in the directory where all the files for that server are located.

To remove a server, you click on the icon of the server to removed, Right Click and chooseStop if the server is running and then Right Click and choose Remove. When a server isremoved, any resources associated with that server are deleted.

Figure 9 EDA Servers dialog box


5.2 CustomiseThe menu enables the management of resources associated with the current editor. For moreon this, refer to the sub-section on Customisation.

5.3 System PreferencesVarious global system preferences can be set for Design Explorer, including toolbar tool tipstatus, tip of the day status and file backup options.

To set Design Explorer preferences select Preferences from the System menu. This will openthe System Preferences dialog box shown in figure 8.

Figure 10 Preferences Dialog Box

5.4 Design UtilitiesSelecting the Design Utilities command displays the Compact & Repair dialog box, which hastabs as, described below.

Compact TabAs you create and remove documents from a design database it can become fragmented anduse disk space inefficiently. “Compacting” a design database will recover any unused spacewithin the database.Check the Perform Compact after closing design check box to ensure that databases arecompacted after editing.


Figure 11 Compact Tab Dialog Box

Repair TabIf a design database behaves unpredictably it may have become damaged. If you suspect that adesign database has become damaged use the Repair feature to restore it.Note - the design database must be closed before it can be repaired.

Figure 12 Repair Tab Dialog Box


5.5 Auto SaveWhen Auto Save is invoked, any documents open in Design Explorer are exported to files.The document name and its editor determine the name of the exported file. The extension isBK + a number indicating which back up file it is.

(E.g. Z80 microprocessor_PCB.BK0)

Configure Auto Save by selecting the Preferences command in the System menu (the downarrow at the left-hand end on the pull down menu). This displays the System Preferencesdialog box. Pressing the AutoSave Settings button on this dialog box displays the Auto Savedialog box.

Figure 13 Auto Save dialog box

The Auto Save options are described below:

Enable when checked all documents open in Design Explorer will be auto saved.

Number allows you to set the number of back up files to be created before the first Backupfile is overwritten.

Time Interval allows you to set the time interval between auto saves.

Use backup folder Allows you to nominate where the back up files are saved. If unchecked,back up files are saves in the directory where the original file is located.

Information provides a complete description of the Auto Save function. Click on the Next>>or <<Previous buttons to move between pages.

Files saved by Auto Save use the file-name followed by an underscore, file type and back upextension number as shown in the figures below. Auto Save overwrites the oldest auto savedfile. When restoring a file from the auto save directory, choose the auto save file with the mostrecent modified time.


Figure 14 Autosaved files

Figure 15 Autosaved Files ( later)


6 Designs and DocumentsA Design is a set of Documents, possibly arranged within Folders. Using the WindowsExplorer analogy, a Design is the top level of a directory tree (one below the root). A Designcould comprise the schematic and PCB documents for a particular PCB but it could alsocomprise schematics, PCB’s, AutoCAD drawings, parts databases and Word documents for adesign project involving many PCB’s and other associated mechanical designs.

To create a new design:1. From the Main Menu select File » New Design to display the New Design Database dialog

box.

2. Choose the Design Storage Type from either MS Access Database or Windows FilesSystem.

3. Enter the Database name in the Database File Name field.

4. Click on the Browse button and navigate to desired location if you wish to relocate thedatabase

5. Click on Password Tab

Note! The default setting is to have no password protection. It is therefore not necessary toclick on Password Tab if you do not require password protection.


6.1 Creating a New Document In a DesignTo create a new document:1. Open the desired folder

2. Right-Click on an empty space in the Design Window (a menu will display)

3. Choose New from the list of menu options to display a collection of document types.

4. Select the required document type (e.g. Schematic document)

5. Click OK

6. An icon for the new document will appear in the Design Window e.g.

Tip! The installed editors determine the range of document types available.

In Design Explorer any document that is created and edited by an OLE server registered onyour PC will appear in the New Document dialog box.

If you activate the “Show All Document Kinds” feature all the available editors will bedisplayed.

6.2 Renaming DocumentsTo rename a document:1. Single click the document icon in the Design Window

2. Right click on the icon and select Rename or from the menu, select Edit » Rename

An icon with highlighted text will appear, ready for you to type in a new name.


6.3 Importing a File into a DesignTo import a file into a design:1. Right click in the Design Window

2. Click on Import in the menu to display the Import File dialog box

3. Navigate to locate required file and select it

4. Click on Open to import it

An Icon is added into the currently active folder.

The document Icon graphic indicates which Editor will be used to edit the imported documente.g. a PCB document will have a PCB icon, indicating that it will be opened by the PCBeditor. A Microsoft Word document will have the familiar Word icon, indicating thatMicrosoft Word will open it.

You can import directly from the Windows File Explorer into the Design Explorer by clickingand dragging the folder or document.

Any folder hierarchy that exists in a dragged folder is automatically recreated in the DesignExplorer.

Note! When using a database, the original file is not removed from your hard disk.

6.4 Editing Non-Protel DocumentsProtel’s Smart Technology allows you to add non-Protel documents to a Design. Documentcreated by ActiveDoc compliant editors (such as Word and Excel documents) can be editedfrom the Design Explorer. E.g. when you double-click on the Word document icon, Word islaunched.

6.5 Linking to an External DocumentLinking allows you to associate a document to a project without having to store it in theDesign Database.

Linked documents are stored in the Design Window in the normal way.

However (because the document is external) moving, deleting and backing up etc must bedone separately.

Caution! You cannot lock an external document while you are working on it. This couldresult in two designers having the same linked document open and overwriting each other.

To link a document:

• Right click in the Design Window

• Click on Link

• Navigate to the required document in the dialog box that appears

• Select the document then click on Open to link it

An icon is added to the current folder.


Notice! The icon has a small arrow in the bottom left corner to indicate that it is a linkedexternal document.

6.6 Exporting Documents from the DesignYou can export a document from a design to the Windows file system. This applies for bothDesign Storage methods.

To export a document:1. Right click on the document icon in the Design Window

Notice that a floating menu is now displayed

2. Select export

Notice that the export dialog box is displayed

3. Navigate to the location where you wish to save the document then click Save

Note 1 The icon is not deleted from the design database!

Note 2 You can export an entire folder (with sub-folders). A folder of the same name iscreated on the hard disk and all documents and sub-folders in the selected Design areexported.

6.7 Working with Existing Protel DesignsIf you open an existing Schematic or PCB document (e.g. one created in Protel 98), it willautomatically be imported into a new design and then opened for editing.

Steps:1. Select File » Open menu command

2. Set the File Type to All Files

3. Select the existing Protel document

4. Click on Open

At this point you will be prompted to save the document as a Design Database.

5. Enter the Database file name and click on OK

Note! The document that is imported into the Design Database is a copy of the original file. Ifyou edit the document and wish to update the original copy, you must export the editeddocument out of the Database.


7 Design Team ConceptsDesign Explorer provides the ability to control access to folders and documents within adatabase. This is implemented in a similar manner to network access control. Each databasehas provision for a Design Team to be set up. Each user requiring access to the database has tobe added as a member of the design team. Permissions can be assigned to documents orfolders to allow or limit the access to Design Team members.

Once you protect a Design Database with a password, subsequent users are required to enter alogin name and password when they wish to access the design. Password protecting a newDesign Database automatically assigns an Administrator to oversee it. The Administratorthereafter determines and controls membership and access levels.

Establishing Administrator:1. Select File » New Design

2. Click on Location Tab and enter name for database

3. Relocate design database if necessary

4. Click on Password Tab

5. Click on Yes to password protect the new design

6. Enter a password

Note! The password that is entered is automatically allocated to the Administrator.

Henceforth, when the administrator wishes to access the Design Database he will log in asADMIN and key in the password. Once the Administrator has access to the database he/shecan allocate memberships and access levels.

Creating New Members:

1. Log into the database as the Administrator

2. Single click on the Design Team icon in the navigation panel.

3. Single click on the membership icon in the Navigation Pane or double-click on themembership icon in the Design Window.

4. Right click on an empty space in the Design Window.

5. Select New Member from the floating menu that appears.

A new member will be created and theUser Properties dialog box will open.

6. Enter the new member’s name. Thisis the name that the new memberwill use to log in.

7. Enter information in Descriptionfield (this is optional).

Password field is optional but if enteredmust be entered when logging in. Thepassword is case sensitive.


7.1 Determining Levels of AccessPermissions determine the access levels team members have to folders and documents in adesign. There are four types of Permissions.

Permission Level Permissions Allowed

Read (R) Permitted to open folders and documents

Write (W) Permitted to modify and save documents

Delete (D) Permitted to delete documents and folders

Create (C) Permitted to create documents and folders

Table 1 Access Level Permissions

The default behaviour of Permissions in the Design Database system is to allow membersfreedom to Read, Write, Create and Delete. The Administrator can subsequently restrict orexpand the access levels for any or all members.

Permissions work in a hierarchical manner. Member access can vary from level to level in theDesign Database.

Importantly Permissions defined at a lower level in the design database override more generalPermissions allocated at higher levels in the database. This structure permits an Administratorto restrict or expand access across the design.

The example below should help to clarify how the Permissions structure works.

In the Permissions folder above the Administrator has total freedom throughout the databaseie. the administrator can Read (R), Write (W), Delete (D), and Create (C)

Notice that team member; Max Harris is entered four times in the Permissions folder.

At the highest level of the Permissions hierarchy, Max has total freedom. If this were the onlypermission entered for Max Harris, he would have total freedom throughout the designdatabase. However, the Administrator has decided to restrict Max Harris’ access in some areasof the design. He enters three more Permissions at lower levels limiting Max’s access.


Study the Permission entries for Max Harris that follows to reinforce your understanding ofthe ‘hierarchical’ nature of Permissions.

At the highest folder in the Design Database Max is given total freedom.

At the Design Team level Max is permitted to Read, Write and Create but he does not have theability to Delete.

Max is prohibited from having any access at the Permissions folder level.

At the Sessions Folder level Max has permission to Read but cannot Write, Create or Delete.

This hierarchical relationship means an administrator can “cordon off” sections of a designdatabase. He can restrict access in a specified lower level and allow total freedom in the rest ofthe database. Conversely, he can allow total freedom in a specific lower level and restrictaccess in the rest of the database.


7.2 Restricting and/or Expanding Access LevelsSteps:1. Log into a design database as the Administrator

2. Click on the Design Team icon in the Navigation Pane

3. Click on Permissions Tab in the Navigation Pane

4. Double-click on a member to bring up the Permission Rules Properties dialog box.

5. Edit the Document Scope field if required i.e. stipulate the folders that you wish thePermission to control.

6. Mark the desired check boxes and click on OK. E.g. in the dialog box above Max haspermission to read, write and create in the Design folder.

7.3 Multiple Access Levels for the Same MemberThe Administrator may decide that theaccess for a particular member shouldvary within the database i.e. the membermay have complete access to some partsof the design but more limited access toother parts.


Steps:1. Click on Permissions Tab

2. Right click on empty space in the window and then left-click on the New Rule button thatappears

3. Click on Down Arrow and select the required member from the list

4. Enter information in the Document Scope field, i.e. defines the folders that the permissionwill control.

5. Check the desired permission check boxes and click on OK

7.4 Monitoring Opened DocumentsIt can be important to know which documents a team member has open when you are workingon a database as a team.

The session’s folder lists the name and location of currently opened documents. It alsoindicates the team member that has it open, the name of the computer it is opened in and itsLocked or Unlocked status (see next section)

7.5 Locking a DocumentTeam Members have the option of Locking the document or documents they are working on.

Once a document has been locked, it can only be un-locked by the team member that locked it.

Other team members with the appropriate Permissions can open locked documents but theycannot edit them. When the team member that locked the document closes it, the document isautomatically unlocked.

Steps:1. Right click on a document icon in the sessions folder

Notice that the Lock/Un-lock button appears.

2. Left click on the button to activate the command

7.6 LibrariesLibraries are stored within a database just like all other design documents. The librarydatabases are stored in the Design Explorer 99 SE \Library folder.

If you have existing libraries that you need to keep as .LIB format files, you can still work withthese. The easiest way to use libraries in both Protel 98 and Design Explorer is to create newlibrary databases and then link (rather than import) the existing company libraries to them.

Exercise1. Locate and open the Z80 Microprocessor Database Folder - it is located in the Examples

folder of Design Explorer directory.

2. Expand and then contract the contents of the database.

3. Single click on a folder in the Explorer to display its contents in the Design Window.


4. Single click on a document in the Explorer to display it in the Design Window.

5. Single click on a few more folders and documents in the Explorer to activate them.

6. Click and drag to move folder to another location in the Explorer.

7. Right click on one of the Folder tabs at the top of the Design Window and select Tile All.

8. Right click on one of the tabs in the multiple screens and select Merge All.

9. Create a new folder in the Database by right clicking on an empty space in the DesignWindow.

10. Right Click on a folder in the Design Window and copy it to the new folder you created.

11. Double-click on an folder icon in the Design Window to display its contents

12. Double-click on a document icon in the Design Window to open it

13. Use the click and drag method to select all the documents and folders displayed in theDesign Window.

14. Create a new database and protect it with a password.

15. Establish an Administrator for your database

16. Create two new members for your database

17. Give different access levels to the two members

18. Create a Library folder in your new database

19. Import a library into your new database

Steps:• Create a library folder• Make the library folder active• Select File » Import• Navigate to Design Explorer 99 SE\Library\Sch• Select one of the Library databases• Select Open20. Rename a document or folder in the Database you created

21. Import an external document into your database using drag and drop

22. Link an external document to your database

23. Import a document from the Z80 Microprocessor database into your database

24. Export a folder from your database to the Microprocessor database.


8 Customisation of Toolbars, Menus and Shortcut KeysGeneral Points:

• All methods of command selection can be customised.

• This includes Menu, Toolbars and Shortcut Key menus

• All commands in all editors are accessible for customisation.

• Menus, Toolbars and Shortcut Key menus are often referred to as Resources in DesignExplorer documentation.

• Popup menus and Right Mouse Click menus are part of the Menu.

Figure 16 Toolbar Properties Dialog Box

8.1 Selecting a Resource EditorActivating the appropriate resource editor dialog box customises resources.

Double-click on an empty space on a toolbar or a menu you wish to customise to activate theappropriate resource editor. (Alternatively click on the System menu, select the Customiseoption and then select the toolbar or menu you wish to customise)

All the resource editors function in a similar manner. Figure 16 above shows the ToolbarProperties dialog box.


8.2 Processes and ParametersCommands behind Menus, Toolbars or Shortcut Keys (resources) are referred to as Processes.

When adding a command to a resource, you need to select a process to associate with thatresource. Each of the resource editor dialog boxes provides you with a browse button to searchthe list of processes available with each Server.

Documentation on the available process for an editor can be found in the On-line Help. Also,once you have selected a process in any of the resource editor dialog boxes, pressing the Infobutton will display help for that process.

Adding parameters can further customise the operation of any process.

A very good example of the use of parameters is the Digital Objects toolbar in the SchematicEditor. To display this, select View » Toolbars » Digital Objects.

Exercise - Adding a Command to a Toolbar1. In this exercise we will add the View » Area command to the Main toolbar of the Schematic

editor.

2. While in a Schematic document, double-click on the Main Toolbar (position the cursor tothe right hand side of the far right button). If the cursor is correctly positioned, a tool tipwill display, saying click and drag to reposition or double-click to edit.

3. This will display the Toolbar Properties dialog box.

4. The scroll box displays all the buttons currently assigned to the toolbar.

5. Scroll down until the Display command toolbar buttons are visible

6. Click on the space immediately after the Zoom Document button and then press the rightmouse button and choose add. This will add a new unassigned button to the toolbar.

7. Double-click on the new button. This displays the Button Toolbar dialog box.

To assign a command (process) to this toolbar button, click on the Browse button next to theProcess drop down box.

Figure 17 ProcessBrowser Dialog Box


8. In this dialog box select Sch in the Show processes for drop down box. This displays allthe processes for the Schematic Editor.

9. Key z into the Filter field so that only processes starting with z are listed. This simplifiesthe task of locating the Zoom Window process.

10. Click on Sch:ZoomWindow and then click on OK.

11. Click on the Browse button next to the Bitmap File field and find the bitmap calledZoomWind.bmp. Double click to assign it the our toolbar button

12. If you would like to put you own tool tip to go with your new toolbar button, add thefollowing text to the Parameters field of the dialog box: $Description=my own toolbarbutton

13. Once you are happy with the graphic on the button, close out of the dialog box and makesure that the button has been added to the Main toolbar.

14. Test the button.

15. Read your tool tip.

Exercise- Adding an Item to the Main MenuIn this exercise you will add an extra wiring toolbar option to the View menu.

1. While in a Schematic document, position the cursor to the right of the Help in the menu barand double-click: the Menu Properties Dialog box will appear.

2. Double-click on View to display the View menu commands.

3. Move your cursor down the first category of commands (i.e. Fit Document etc.) until thecursor rests on the first separator line (a line with no command associated with it).

4. Click on the separator line.

5. Right Click and choose Separator to add a new separator

6. Click on the new Separator line (the one below the highlighted one)

7. Right Click and choose Add

8. Notice that the words Menu Item appear.

9. Type My Wiring Tools in the Menu text box in the lower section of the Menu propertiesdialog box

10. Click on the Browse button next to the process drop down box. The Process BrowserDialog box appears.

11. Choose Client in the Show processes for drop down box.

12. Scroll through Dialog box and select the Client: Customise Resources process

13. Right click and choose Test Menu

14. Click on View in the Menu that appears

15. Notice that My Wiring Tools appears as an option on the View menu.

16. Exit from the test menu display


17. Click on the Close button to return to the document editor.

18. If you now click on View, you will notice that My Wiring Tools appears as an option.

19. Clicking on this option will toggle the Wiring Toolbar on or off

Exercise: Adding an Item to the Right Mouse Click MenuIn this exercise we will add the View » Area command to the Right Click menu of theSchematic editor.

1. While in a Schematic document, position the cursor to the right of the Help in the menu barand double-click to display the Menu Properties dialog box.

2. Double-click on Help to expand its contents.

3. Scroll through to locate the entry Right Mouse Click {Right_Click}

4. Click on the first item under Right Mouse Click

5. Right click and then choose Separator

6. Right click again and choose Add

7. Notice that the words Menu Item appear

8. Right click and choose Separator

9. Add the Zoom area command to the menu in the same manner as the previous exercise

Once the command is added, Right Click to test the command.

Figure 18 Menu PropertiesDialog Box


8.3 Creating a New Menu, Toolbar or Shortcut Key MenuCreating a new Menu, Toolbar or Shortcut Key menu is similar to editing one. The procedureis outlined below.

Create the ResourceSelect the Customise command from the System menu (the down arrow to the left of the Filemenu). This displays Customise Resources dialog box shown in Figure 19.

Figure 19 Customize Resources Dialog Box

From this dialog box you can:

• Create a new resource

• Delete a resource

• Edit a resource

• Copy a resource from an existing one

To create a new resource, you click on the tab for the resource you want to create. You thenRight click and choose New. You then add processes as if you were editing an existingresource. When a new resource is created, it is automatically associated with the current editor.

The procedure to make each type of resource active is described below:

Menu: Only one menu can be active at any one time but any number of menus can beassociated with an editor. To make a new menu active, select it from the Current Menu dropdown box in the Menu tab of the Customise Resources dialog box. If you create a new menu itwill automatically be the current menu.

Toolbars: Any number of toolbars can be active. When a new Toolbar is created, it isautomatically active. To turn off a tool bar, you locate its check box in the Available Toolbars


scroll box in the Toolbars tab of the Customise Resources dialog box. Checked toolbars areactive.

Shortcut Keys: Only one Shortcut Key table can be active at any one time but any number ofthem can be associated with an editor. To make a new Shortcut Key table active, select it fromthe Current Shortcut Table drop down box in the Menu tab of the Customise Resources dialogbox.

9 Text EditorThe Text Editor is a general-purpose text editor that you can use to view or edit textdocuments. There are a number of commands in the various document editors that generatetext documents. These automatically open the Text Editor and display the text document thatwas generated. For example, the Reports » Bill of Material menu command at your disposalwhile in a Schematic document generates a parts list of your schematic and then switches tothe Text Editor and displays the parts list.

Figure 20 Text Editor

The Text Editor Panel provides a number of facilities to aid in searching for text. These aredescribed in section 1.6.1.


9.1 SearchingThe Find section of the Text Editor Panel enables you to find occurrences of specific textwithin files open in the Text Editor. To find a string of text, you click on the top field in theFind section and key in the text string you want to search for and then press the Search button.

If any occurrences of the text string are located, their line numbers are listed in the lower ofthe two large fields in the Find section. The string that was searched for is displayed in theupper of the two large fields in the Find section.

To select the line of the text file containing the string, click on that line number. To return tothat line after doing other commands, press the Goto button. If you initiate search for anotherstring, the Text Editor will keep the results of the current search unless you press the Clearbutton.

Each new search will add a line to the upper field. Double-clicking on a line in the upper largefield will display the occurrences of that string in the lower large field.

The check boxes in the lower part of the Find section perform the following:

Find Options Function

Case Sensitive Search will ignore the case of characters if unchecked

Whole Word If checked, search will locate strings with spaces either side

All Text Docs If checked, all text documents open in the text editor will be searched

Table 2 Text Editor Find Options

9.2 Location MarkersLocation Markers enable you to mark a cursor location in the text file. You can then return tothat location as required. There are ten location markers in the Text Editor. The LocationMarker controls are located in the Location Marker section of the Text Editor Panel.

To set a location mark, position the cursor at the desired location and check the check box forone of the Location Markers. Now, each time you press the button next to that LocationMarker check box, the cursor will return that that Location Marker position.

9.3 Syntax HighlightingThe Text Editor has a feature known as Syntax Highlighting, which is very useful whenworking with structured documents such as source files for programming languages. TheSyntax Highlighting displays key words in the file in pre-defined colours.

Syntax Highlighting is determined by the file extension. For example files with the extension.bas will use the Syntax Highlighting defined for Basic.

You can define you own Syntax Highlighting and modify existing definitions using the Tools» Change Language menu command.


10 Schematic Editor BasicsThe Schematic Editor makes use of all the workspace features in the Design Explorerenvironment. This includes multiple toolbars, Resource editing, Right Click menu, ShortcutKey table, Tooltips and Autosave.

Figure 21 Schematic Editor Workspace

In this section we will explore the basics of working in the Schematic Editor.

If it is not already open, open the schematic sheet, CPU Section.sch in the Z80Microprocessor.ddb database (as shown in Figure 21).


10.1 View CommandsThe View commands can be accessed in the View menu. The table below lists the main displaycommands:

Command ToolbarIcon

ShortcutKey

Description

Fit Document VD Display entire document

Fit All Objects VF Fits all objects in the current documentwindow

Area VA Display a rectangular area of document byselecting diagonal vertices of the rectangle

Around Point VP Display a rectangular area of document byselecting the centre and one vertex of therectangle

50% V5 Set display magnification to 50%




Zoom In VI Zoom In around current cursor position

Zoom Out VO Zoom Out around current cursor position

Pan VN Re-centre the screen around the currentcursor position

Redraw VR Update the screen display

Table 3 View Command Summary

While executing commands, Auto-Panning becomes active (when the “cross-hair” is attachedto the cursor) by touching any edge of the design window.

Auto-Panning speed is controlled via Auto Pan Options section of the Graphical Editing tabwithin the Preferences dialog box (Tools » Preferences). Auto panning can also be turned offhere.

While Auto-Panning, pressing the Shift key will double the panning speed.


The following shortcut keys provide a very useful alternative for manipulating the view of theworkspace. Note that these can be used while executing commands.

Keystroke Function

END Redraws the view

PAGE DOWN Zoom out (holds the current cursor position)

PAGE UP Zoom in (holds the current cursor position)

CTRL PAGE DOWN View Document

HOME View pan (pan to centre the current cursor position)

SPACEBAR Stops screen redraw

ARROW KEYS Moves the cursor by one snap grid point in the direction of thearrow

SHIFT + Arrow Key Moves the cursor by 10 snap grid points in the direction of thearrow

Table 4 Shortcut Keys For View Manipulation

10.2 Location MarkersThese allow you to store up to 10 locations in you schematic document. You can then return tothese locations using the Jump command.

To set a location marker, select Edit » Set Location Marks and select from location marks 1 to10. You then use the cursor to position the location mark.

To return to that location, select Edit » Jump » Location mark x (Jx) and the display will becentred on that location mark.

10.3 SelectionThe Schematic Editor provides Selection capabilities that are similar although not identical toSelection in other Windows applications.

Below are some key points about Selection in the Schematic editor:

• The main use of Selection is to nominate objects for a clipboard operation i.e. to nominatewhich objects will be moved or copied to the clipboard when the Cut or Copy commandsare invoked.

• Once objects are on the Clipboard, they can then be pasted elsewhere onto the currentschematic or into another schematic or to another Windows application which supports theWindows Clipboard

• Selection is cumulative. Objects that have been selected remain selected until they are de-selected.

• Ctrl+Del deletes all selected objects


To select an object you can use:

Keystroke Function

Click+Drag Select all objects enclosed by drag area

SHIFT+Left Click on object Select an object (on a selected object this will de-select it)

Edit » Select.... menu (S) Select Inside Area, Outside Area, All, Net or Connection

Select Inside AreaButton on main toolbar

Table 5 Select Command Summary

Selected objects can be:

Keystroke Function

Cut, Copied, Pasted or cleared Using the Edit menu commands

Moved Click and hold on any selected object

Moved or Dragged Using the Edit » Move menu commands (M. Shortcut keys)

Aligned Using the Edit » Align menu commands (A. Shortcut keys)

Deleted Using CTRL+DELETE

Table 6 Selected Object Command Summary

To DE-SELECT objects, use the Edit » DeSelect menu commands (Xfor popup menu) or the DeSelect All button on the Main toolbar.

Hints on Selection

• Before starting a selection it is a good idea to de-select all objects first.

• Only items that fall completely inside the selection area are selected.

• The selection colour is set in Options » Preferences dialog box.

• The Move menu allows you to move selections:

- Without maintaining connectivity (move)

- Maintaining connectivity (drag)

• The S key pops up the Select menu

• The X key pops up the De-select menu

10.4 FocusFocus is provided to allow you to graphically edit single objects.

Below are some key points about Focus:

• An object is put into focus by clicking on it.


• When in focus, handles appear at key points on the object, or if it is a component or text, adashed line appears around it.

• Clicking on another object will make it the current focus.

• The method for editing objects in focus varies between objects, but typically aninstantaneous click on a handle enables you to move the handle.

• An instantaneous click on a segment of an object in focus allows you to move it.

• Only one object can be in focus at a time. When you single click to focus on anotherobject, the previous object will no longer be in focus.

Note: You can edit a text object by first putting into focus and then clicking on it again. Youcan then move the cursor using the arrow keys to the characters requiring editing.

To De-Focus an object, simply click in an area of the workspace where there are no objects.

When an object is in focus the following key strokes / mouse actions will:

Keystroke Function

DEL Delete the item

Click on Handle Move a handle

Click on Segment Move a segment

INSERT+Click Insert a new handle

Click & hold onHandle+DEL

Delete a handle

Table 7 Focused Object Command Summary

10.5 Other mouse actions:The mouse operations listed below are universal throughout the Schematic editor and shouldbe used in preference to menu commands:

Keystroke Function

Click-and-hold on object Move an object

CTRL+Click on object Drag an object whilst maintaining connectivity, spacebar to change mode

Double Click on object Edit an object’s properties

Click Left button ENTER

Click Right button ESCAPE

Table 8 General Mouse Shortcut Summary

While an object is on the cursor, the following applies:

• Spacebar to rotate


• X key to flip around the vertical axis

• Y key to flip around the horizontal axis

• Hold the Alt key to allow only vertical movement

• Hold the Alt key and the Shift key to allow only horizontal movement

10.6 Multiple Objects at the Same LocationWhen working in the Schematic editor, the situation sometimes occurs where a click toperform an operation is made where there are multiple objects. In this situation, the editorpops up a menu listing all the objects it has detected at the location of the click. You can thenselect off this menu the object you wish to operate on.

Figure 22 Menu listing objects at mouse click point

10.7 Exercise – Schematic Editor BasicsZooming and Panning

16. Open the schematic document CPU Clock.sch in the Z80 Microprocessor.ddb database.

17. Experiment with each of the display commands listed in Table 3 using the View menu,Shortcut keys and the Main toolbar:

18. Select the menu command Place » Annotation (PT) and experiment with the Shortcut keyslisted in Table 4 in conjunction with the display commands you have just mastered. To exitthe command, hit the ESCAPE key or click the right mouse button.

19. Now try Auto-Panning. Select the menu command Place » Annotation (PT) again, thenmove the cursor to an edge of the window. The display will start panning. Select theSHIFT key while the display is panning. Note the “cross-hair” cursor displaying while thePlace » Annotation command is active.

Location Markers1. Set Location Mark 2 by selecting Edit » Set Location Marks » Location Mark 2 (L2) and

then click in the schematic sheet the position for the location mark.

2. Zoom out to another part of the schematic.


3. Select Edit » Jump » Location Mark 2 (J2) and the screen will centre on location marknumber 2.

Focus, Selection and Mouse Actions1. Click on the crystal. Observe the dashed box indicating the crystal as the focused object.

2. Click on the crystal a second time. The part will now be 'lifted' off the sheet and can bemoved. It is re-placed by clicking on the left mouse button.

3. Click on the capacitor. It will now be the focused object.

4. Click somewhere on the sheet where there are no parts. Nothing will be in focus now.

5. In a clear area of the sheet, draw a line with a few vertices using Place » Drawing Tools »Line or Place Line from the Drawing Tools toolbar.

6. Click on the line to bring it into focus. Notice the handles are now displayed.

7. Experiment with moving a vertex, moving a segment (a length of line between twovertices), adding a vertex (INSERT then left click) and deleting a vertex (left click thenDELETE).

8. DeSelect all objects on the sheet using Edit » DeSelect »All (Shortcut keys XA) or on the main toolbar.

9. Using the click and drag selection feature, select the three inverters, the resistors, capacitorand crystal. The selected objects will be highlighted with a yellow box.

10. Using the Edit » Copy menu command, copy the items to the clipboard.

11. Open a new sheet and paste the clipboard contents onto it. DeSelect the pasted objects.

12. Close the new sheet (no need to save it).

13. Try moving the selected objects on the original sheet using the Edit » Move menucommands.

14. While holding the CTRL key, click on the capacitor. You can now drag the capacitor whilstmaintaining connectivity.

15. Double-click on one of the 74LS04s. The Edit Part dialog box will pop up. You can nowedit any of the device’s properties. Click on the hidden pins check box. Click on the OKbutton. Notice the two extra pins that have appeared on the device. These are the powerpins, more on these later. Re-hide the power pins.


11 Schematic Graphical ObjectsIn General:

• Use the Drawing Tools toolbar to place the graphical objects.

• When an object is in focus its handles are displayed.

• When placing an item press the TAB key to edit its properties.

• Turn the Drawing Tools toolbar on and off using this toolbarbutton in the main toolbar, or the View » Toolbars » DrawingTools menu command. All drawing toolbar functions can be accessed through the Place »Drawing Tools menu.

Re-entrant EditingWhile in a command, you can select another command without quitting the first commandprovided you use a shortcut key. This powerful capability will considerably enhance yourproductivity. Experiment with it in the exercises.

Figure 23 Graphical Objects


11.1 Summary of Graphical ObjectsFor an example of each graphical object open the schematic sheet Graphical Objects.sch in theTraining.ddb database.

11.1.1 Lines

To draw a line;• Select the Place Line toolbar button• Left-Click once to start the line• Left-Click to place each vertex• The Backspace key deletes the last vertex placed• Right-Click once to end the line• Right-Click again to end the command

11.1.2 Polygons

To draw a polygon;• Select the Place Polygon toolbar button• Left-Click to place each vertex• Right-Click to end the polygon• Right-Click again to end the command• The fill colour and border colour are independent.• Turn the Draw Solid option off in the Polygon dialog box to draw a polygon that is not

filled.

11.1.3 Arcs

To place a circular arc;• Select the Place » Drawing Tools » Arcs menu command.• Left-Click to place the arc centre• Left-Click to determine the arc radius• Left-Click to place the start of the arc• Left-Click to place the end of the arc• Right-Click to end the command.

11.1.4 Elliptical Arcs

To place an elliptical arc;• Select the Place Elliptical Arc toolbar button• Left-Click to place the arc centre• Left-Click to determine the arc X-radius• Left-Click to determine the arc Y-radius• Left-Click to place the first end of the arc• Left-Click to place the second end of the arc• Right-Click to end the command


11.1.5 Bezier Curves

A Bezier curve is a curve of best fit between points defined by mouse clicks. To draw a Beziercurve:• Select the Place Bezier Curve toolbar button• Left-Click once to place the first control point

at the start of the curve• Left-Click to place the second control point• Left-Click to place the third control point• Left-Click to place the fourth control point• Continue to Left-Click to place further control points• Right-Click to end the command• To reshape the curve, focus it (click on one end of the curve) and then move, insert or

delete new control points (handles).

11.1.6 Annotation (Text)To place a line of text;• Select the Place Annotation toolbar

button• Press TAB to edit the contents and the font of the text• Left-Click to position the text• Right-Click to end the command

11.1.7 Multi-Line Text Frames

These are used to place paragraphs of text on the sheet.• To place a text frame;• Select the Place Text Frame toolbar button• Press TAB to edit the contents and

properties for the text frame• Select OK• Left-Click to position the top left corner of the frame• Left-Click to position the bottom right corner of the frame• Right-Click to stop placing text framesThe following keys apply when entering text into the frame:

Action Keystroke

Insert a TAB Ctrl-TAB

Cut Shift-Delete or Ctrl-X

Copy Shift-Ins or Ctrl-C

Paste Shift-Ins or Ctrl-V

Table 9 Text Frame Action Summary


The Cut, Copy and Paste apply to the Windows clipboard. The clipboard can also be used tobring text in from other applications.

Check in Help for information on each field in the Text Frame dialog box.

11.1.8 Rectangles

To place a rectangle;• Select the Place Rectangle toolbar button• Click-Left to place top left corner• Click-Left to place bottom right corner• Click-Right to end the command

11.1.9 Rounded Rectangles

Rounded rectangles are rectangles with rounded corners. The radius of the arcs at the rectanglecorners are set in the X-Radius and Y-Radius fields in the Round Rectangle dialog box.

To place a rounded rectangle;• Select the Place Rounded Rectangle toolbar button• Press TAB to set the corner radii• Select OK• Click-Left to place top left corner• Click-Left to place bottom right corner• Click-Right to end the command

11.1.10 Ellipses

Also use this object for circles. To place an ellipse;• Select the Place Ellipse toolbar button• Left-Click to place the ellipse centre• Left-Click to determine the ellipse X-radius• Left-Click to determine the ellipse Y-radius• Right-Click to end the command

11.1.11 Pie ShapesTo place a pie shape;• Select the Place Pie Shape toolbar button• Left-Click to place the pie centre• Left-Click to determine the pie radius• Left-Click to place the first edge of the pie• Left-Click to place the second edge of the pie• Right-Click to end the command

11.1.12 Graphical Images

Graphical images with the following formats can be added to your schematic:


1. .bmp2. .rle3. .jpg4. .tif5. .wmfThe file containing the graphical image is not inserted into the sheet. Instead, pointer to thefile is placed in the sheet. For this reason the image file must be transferred with theschematic file when moving the schematic from one location to another.

To place a graphic image;

• Select the Place Graphical Image toolbar button

• Locate the file that contains the image

• Select OK

• Left-Click to place the top left corner of the image

• Left-Click to place the bottom right corner of the image

• Select cancel to end the command

11.1.13 Paste Array

This command places all objects on the clipboard in an array defined in the dialog box shownbelow. Any text object on the clipboard finishing with a number will incremented.

To place an array;

• Select and copy the required items to the clipboard

• Select the Array Placement toolbar command

• Set the placement variables in the Set up Paste Array dialog box. Use Help for explanationof each variable.

• Select OK

• Left-Click to place the array

• DeSelect All

Figure 24 Set up Paste Array dialog box


11.2 Font ManagementFonts are controlled via the Font dialog box. This dialog box will pop up whenever you edittext and click the Font Change button.

Changing the font for text that cannot be edited directly, such as pin names, port names andsheet text is done via the Change System Font button in the Document Options dialog box(Design » Options).

The Font dialog box allows you to examine what fonts are available.

Verify that the correct printer is selected in Printer Setup.

Figure 25 Font dialog box

11.3 Exercise – Schematic Graphical ObjectsExplore Drawing Tools

• Create a new sheet (File » New) and experiment with placing each of the graphic objectsyou have just been introduced to.

• Put each object into focus and observe the handles.

• Investigate the effect of moving handles.

• Close the sheet and don’t save.


12 Schematic Electrical ObjectsIn General

• Use the Wiring Tools toolbar to place Electrical Objects

• Electrical objects are those that have some part the play in representing components orconnections.

• Turn the wiring toolbar on and offusing the button on the main toolbar.

• All Wiring Tools toolbar functions can be accessed through the Place menu

• Text in electrical objects can be over scored, typically to indicate an active low signal, byplacing ‘\’ at the start of the text string e.g. \reset would display as over scored text.

In the following paragraphs, the use of each electrical object is explained.

D0D1D2D3D4D5D6D7

A0A1

CLK20 DCDB 22

DTRB 25

IEO7 CTSB 23

IEI6 RTSB 24

INT5

W/RDYB 30

B/A34 SYNCB 29

C/D33 TXDB 26

RD32 RXTXCB 27

IORQ36 RXDB 28

M18

RESET21 DCDA 19

CE35 DTRA 16

CTSA 18

RTSA 17

W/RDYA 10

SYNCA 11

TXCA 14

TXDA 15

RXCA 13

RXDA 12D74 D637 D53 D438 D32 D239 D11 D040

U6Z80ASIO0

VCC

BAUDCLK

BAUDCLKBAUDCLK.SCH

BAUDCLK

D[0..7]

A[0..15]

IORQRD

M1RESETSIOSEL

A[0..15]

D[0..7]

CPUCLK

INT

Wire

Bus Bus Entry

Junction

Sheet Symbol Sheet Entry

Ports

Power Port

Part

W/RDYB

Net Label

PCB Routing Directive

No ERC

Figure 26 Electrical Objects


12.1 Summary of Electrical ObjectsFor an example of each electrical object open the schematic sheet Electrical Objects.sch in theTraining.ddb database.

12.1.1 Wires

• Wires are used to represent an electrical connection between points.• Be careful not to use the Line object instead of the Wires object.• Press the Spacebar to change the Placement mode. There are 6 placement modes as

follows:• 90 Degree Start• 90 Degree End• 45 Degree Start• 45 Degree End• Any Angle• Auto Wire• The Backspace key deletes the last vertex placed• A wire end must fall on the connection point of an electrical object to be connected to it.

For example the end of a wire must fall on the hot end of a pin to connect.• Wires have the Auto Junction feature, which automatically inserts a Junction object if a

wire starts or ends on another wire or runs across a pin.

12.1.2 Buses

• Buses are used to graphically represent how a group of related signals, such as a data busare connected on a sheet. They are also used to collect together all the signals belonging toa bus on a sheet and connecting them to a Port to enter or leave a sheet. In this instancethey must have a net label of this format : D[0..7].

• Place a bus line in the same manner as placing wires – press Spacebar to change placementmode, Backspace key to delete the last vertex placed.

• Buses can only represent connections to Ports and Sheet Entries and only at their endpoints.

12.1.3 Bus Entries

• Bus entries are used to represent a connection between a wire and a bus.• To place a bus entry;• Ensure that an appropriate snap grid is set so that connections will be made• Select the bus entry toolbar button• Press the space bar to rotate the bus entry• Left-Click once to position the bus entry• Right-Click to stop placing bus entries• Use of Bus Entries is optional – many users prefer to place a 45-degree wire.


12.1.4 Net Labels

A net label is used to make a net easily identifiable and also provides a method of connectingpins belonging to the same net without placing a wire.

A connection is made between all wires withidentical net labels on a sheet. In some cases allwires with identical net labels in a project will beconnected together. (See Hierarchy later)

All net labels on a net must be identical.

The net list generator will convert all net labels toupper case.

To associate a net label with a wire, place it so thatits reference point (bottom left corner) falls on thewire.

The electrical grid is active when placing net labels.

To place a net label:• Ensure that an appropriate snap grid is set so

that connections will be made• Select the Place Net Label toolbar command• Press TAB to edit the net label text• Click on the down arrow in the Net field to display the names of nets already defined on

the sheet.• Press the space bar to rotate the net label• Left-Click once to position the net label• Right-Click to stop placing net labels• If the last character in a net label is a number, it

will increment when subsequent net labels areplaced.

12.1.5 Power Ports

• All power ports of the same name in a projectwill be connected.

• To connect to a power port make sure that awire falls on the end of the power port pin.

• The style of the power port only changes itsappearance. It does not affect the connectivity;this is established through the Net property.

• Power ports will connect to hidden pins withthe same name throughout the design,regardless of the net identifier scope used.

• To place a power port;• Select the Power Port toolbar button• TAB to edit the power port properties


• Left-Click to position the port• Right click to stop placing power ports

12.1.6 Ports

• Ports provide a method of formingconnections from one sheet to another sheet.

• Click on the down arrow in the Name field tolist all the Port names defined on the sheet.

• The port I/O Type is used by the ERC whenchecking for connection errors.

• The port style only changes the appearanceof the port.

• To place a port;• Select the Port toolbar button• TAB to edit the port properties• Press the Spacebar to rotate and X and Y flip• Left-Click to position one end of the port• Drag the mouse to set the port length, Left-

Click to finish the port• Right click to stop placing ports

12.1.7 Parts

• When placing parts use a snap grid that will cause the pin ends to fall on a grid point (e.g.10).

• When the Place » Part (PP) command is selected the Place Part dialog box is displayed.You can enter the name of the component in the Lib Ref field or you can click on theBrowse button to locate the part by browsing libraries.

• Parts can also be placed using the library browser on the editor panel.


12.1.8 Sheet Symbols

Sheet symbols are used when you wish to break the design into a number of sheets.

A sheet symbol must be placed for each schematic document in the project.

The sheet symbol name is a descriptive name for the sheet.

The sheet symbol Filename property must be the document name of the schematic document itrepresents. All sheets in a project should be in the same directory. The correct syntax for thesheet symbol file name is sub_sheet.sch.

When changing the size of the sheet symbol make sure the edges of the sheet symbol fall onthe snap grid (to ensure connection between wires and sheet entries).

To place a sheet symbol;• Select the Sheet Symbol toolbar button (PS)• Press TAB to edit the sheet symbol name and sheet symbol file name• Left-Click to place the top left corner• Left-Click to place the bottom right corner• Right-Click to stop placing sheet symbols

12.1.9 Sheet Entries

Sheet entries are used in the sheet symbols if you are doing the design in a true hierarchicalstructure, with nets interconnecting the sheet symbols.

Each sheet entry needs a matching port on the sub-sheet.

Use the Sheet Symbols / Port Connections as the net identifier scope when creating netlists orrunning the electrical rules checker.

To place a sheet entry;• Select the Add Net Connections to Sheet Symbol tool (PA)• Select the sheet symbol that the sheet entry is for• Press TAB to edit the sheet entry properties• Click on the down arrow in the name field to list all the Sheet Entry names used on the

current sheet• Position the sheet entry on either the left or right side of the sheet symbol• Left-Click to position the sheet entry• Right-Click to stop placing sheet entries

12.1.10 Junctions

A junction represents a connection between wires, typically at “T” joins. A junction at theintersection of the wires will cause them to connect.

The Auto-Junction feature is set in the Schematic tab of the Preferences dialog box. Thisautomatically places junctions when a wire terminates or starts on another wire.

If you place wires across the ends of pins, junctions will automatically be added.


12.1.11 No-ERC

Place a No-ERC symbol on the pin to indicate to the ERC that no-connection error messagesare to be suppressed for that pin. These can be suppressed for printing.

12.1.12 PCB Routing Directives

Place a PCB routing directive to associate routing information with a particular net. Thisinformation can then be passed forward to Advanced PCB, using the Protel 2 Netlist format.

The following properties can be attached to a net:

1. Track width

2. Via width

3. Routing topology

4. Routing priority

5. Routing layer

To place a routing directive;• Select the Add Directives to Nets For PCB Routing button• Press tab to edit the routing directives• Position the routing directives symbol so that its hot point (bottom of the stem) touches the

net• Click-Left to place the routing directive• Click-Right to stop placing routing directivesThese can be suppressed for printing

12.1.13 Probe and Stimulus Directives

Probe and stimulation directives are used in OrCAD digital simulation. These can besuppressed for printing.


13 PCB Editor BasicsThe PCB editor shares all the workspace features offered by the Design Explorer environment.Use of the PCB editor is consistent with the Schematic Editor, with the following additions:

Layer Tabs: These are located along the bottom edge of the PCB editor display window.They allow you switch the current layer and give a visual indication of which layers arecurrently being displayed and which is the current layer.

MiniViewer: This provides the following functions:

• Browsing library components

• Magnified viewing if the workspace

• Shows a view of where in the workspace the display window currently is displaying

• View manipulation capabilities

Figure 27 PCB Editor Workspace


13.1 View CommandsThe View commands can be accessed in the View menu or the Main toolbar. The table belowlists the main display commands:

Menu Command ToolbarIcon

Shortcut Description

Fit Document VD Fits all objects in the current documentwindow

Fit Board VF Fits the PCB to the current document windowusing the board outline on the keep out layer

Area VA Display a rectangular area of document byselecting diagonal vertices of the rectangle

Around Point VP Display a rectangular area of document byselecting the centre and then a vertex of therectangle

View SelectedObjects

VE Fits selected objects in the current documentwindow

Zoom In VI Zooms In

Zoom Out VO Zooms Out

Zoom Last VL Returns display to its state before the lastview command

Pan VN Pans the cursor position to centre screen

Refresh VR Updates the screen

Table 10 View Command Summary


The following shortcut keys are very useful for manipulating the view of the documentwindow. Note that these can be used at any time (i.e. even when executing commands).

Keystroke Function

END Redraws the view

ALT+END Redraw Current layer

PAGE DOWN Zoom out (holds the current cursor position)

PAGE UP Zoom in (holds the current cursor position)

CTRL PAGE DOWN View Document

CTRL PAGE UP Massive Zoom In around the current cursor position

HOME View pan (pan to centre the current cursor position)

SPACEBAR Stops screen redraw

Arrow Keys Moves the cursor by one snap grid point in the direction of the arrow

SHIFT + Arrow Key Moves the cursor by 10 snap grid points in the direction of the arrow

Table 11 Shortcut Keys For View Manipulation

Auto-PanningAuto Panning becomes active when executing commands, (when the “cross-hair” is attachedto the cursor). When in this state, touching any edge of the document window will initiateAuto-Panning.

Auto-Panning speed is controlled via Auto Pan Options section of the Graphical Editing tabwithin the Preferences dialog box (Tools » Preferences). Auto panning can also be turned offhere.

Right Mouse PanningYou can also use the Right Mouse Scroll feature to pan across your PCB document.

• Place the cursor in the PCB editor workspace

• Right-click and hold (a hand symbol displays on the cursor)

• Move the cursor in the desired direction to pan

Note! Once the cursor is off the sheet, the panning will stop and you will need to release theright button and repeat the process.


13.2 Location MarksThese allow you to store up to 10 locations in you PCB document. You can then return tothese locations using the Jump command.

To set a location marker, select Edit » Jump » Set Location Marks and select from locationmarks 1 to 10. You then use the cursor to position the location mark.

To return to that location, select Edit » Jump » Location mark (JM) and the display will becentred on that location mark.

13.3 Exercise - PCB Editor View Commands1. Work through Table 10 to get familiar with each command listed. Use them both from the

toolbar and using shortcut keys.

2. Work through Table 11 to get familiar with each command listed

3. Add the Fit Board command to the Main toolbar with the other view commands

4. (Hint! Use the PCB:Zoom process with the parameter Action=board and use the bitmappcb.bmp)

13.4 FocusUse Focus to graphically edit an object.

Below are some key points about Focus:

• An object becomes the current focus when you click on it with the left mouse button.

• When in focus, handles appear at key points on the object.

• Clicking on another object will make it the current focus.

• The method for editing objects in focus varies between objects, but typically aninstantaneous click on a handle enables you to move the handle.

• An instantaneous click on an object in focus allows you to move it.

• Only one object can be in focus at a time. When you single click to focus on anotherobject, the previously focused object will no longer be in focus.

• When placing objects, the last object placed remains in focus.

• Objects that display a cross and circle when in focus (i.e. fills and text) can be rotated byinstantaneously clicking on the circle.

• Use focus to edit text objects.

To DE-FOCUS an object, simply click in an area of the workspace where there are no objects.

Note: PCB Components cannot be put into Focus.


13.5 SelectionThe PCB Editor provides Selection capabilities that are similar although not identical toSelection in other Windows applications.

Below are some key points about Selection in the PCB editor:

• Selected objects can be cut or copied to the clipboard. They can then be pasted elsewhereonto the current PCB file or into another PCB file.

• Selection is normally cumulative. Objects that have been selected remain selected untilthey are de-selected. (This can be turned off - see Extend Selection in the Options tab ofthe Preferences dialog box).

• There are a number of PCB editor commands that operate on the selected group of objectse.g. Tools » Teardrops » Add and the Tools » Interactive Placement commands

• If you Paste components back into the same PCB document, their Designator text has“Copy_*” added to it to avoid duplicate designators.

• The PCB Editor uses a special proprietary clipboard that supports PCB data such asconnectivity and layer properties of primitives. This clipboard is not the Windowsclipboard.

• To copy a PCB document to the Windows Clipboard, there is a Copy (to Clipboard)command in the Print/Preview utility (See Printing section).

To select objects you can use:

Keystroke Function

Click+Drag box around Select all objects enclosed by drag area

Shift+Left Click Select an object (on a selected object this will de-select it)

Edit » Select menu (S) Select Inside Area, Outside Area or All

Select Inside AreaThis button on main toolbar

Browse section of theeditor

The following browsers have a Select button to Select thehighlighted objects:• Nets• Components• Net Classes• Component Classes

Design Rules dialog box Click on the Select Affected Objects button to select object towhich the current design rules apply

Table 12 Select Command Summary


Selected objects can be:

Keystroke Function

Cut, Copied, Pasted or cleared Using the Edit menu commands

Moved Using the Edit » Move » Move Selection command

Rotated Using the Edit » Move » Rotate Selection command

Flipped Using the Edit » Move » Flip Selection command

Aligned Using the Tools » Interactive Placement » Aligncommands

Deleted Using Ctrl+Delete key or the Edit » Clear menu command

Table 13 Selected Object Command Summary

Alternatively, you can move the selected group by Clicking and holding on it. While you aremoving the selected group you can:

• Flip it by pressing the X or Y key

• Rotate it by pressing the Space Bar

To DE-SELECT objects, use the Edit » DeSelect menu (X)commands or the DeSelect All button on the Main toolbar.

Hints on Selection

• Before starting a selection it is a good idea to de-select all objects first.

• Only items that fall completely inside the selection area will be selected.

• The selection colour is set in the Colours tab of the Preferences dialog box (Tools »Preferences).

• Use Shift+Left Click to select and de-select individual objects.

• Pressing the S key pops up the Select menu.

• Pressing the X key pops up the DeSelect menu.

13.5.1 Paste Special

The Paste Special command allows you to control what happens to the properties of theobjects that are on the clipboard when they are pasted back into the workspace.

To execute this command, select Edit » Paste Special. This displays the Paste Special dialogbox shown in Figure 28 where you have the following options:

Paste on current layerIf this option is disabled all single layer objects such as tracks, fills, arcs and single layer padskeep their existing layer assignments. If this option is enabled then all single layer objects arepasted onto the current layer.


Keep net nameIf this option is enabled then all objects that have a net name will keep the assigned net name.If this option is disabled the net attribute is set to “No Net”.

Figure 28 Paste Special Dialog box

Duplicate designatorWhen pasting components, their Designator text has “Copy_*” added to them if there is acomponent with the same designator already in the document. This option turns this off and isprovided to allow panelisation. Typically the Keep net name option is disabled if this option isenabled.

Add to component classPasted component(s) are added to the same class as the component(s) they were copied from(See the Design Rules section).

13.5.2 Query Manager

This allows you to define selection operations and then repeatedly use them. It also includes aWizard to simply setting up selection queries.

13.6 Other Mouse OperationsThe mouse operations listed below are universal throughout the PCB editor and should beused in preference to menu commands:

Keystroke Function

Click-and-hold Move an object (While moving the object, press the SpaceBar to rotate it and X or Y to flip it)

Double-Click Change an object

Click Left button ENTER

Click Right button ESCAPE

Table 14 General Mouse Shortcut Summary


13.7 Multiple Objects at the Same LocationWhen working in the PCB editor, the situation often occurs where a click to perform anoperation is made where there are multiple objects. In this situation, the PCB editor pops up amenu listing all the objects it has detected at the location of the click. You can then select offthis menu the object you wish to operate on.

Figure 29 Menu listing objects at mouse click point

13.8 Jump MenuThe Jump menu commands provide you with a number of commands for locating the cursor.These are described as follows:

Figure 30 Jump Menu Commands

Absolute Origin Positions the cursor at the Absolute Origin. Ctrl +Home also does this.Current Origin Positions the cursor at the Origin. Ctrl +End also does this.New Location Positions the cursor at a specified coordinate.Component Positions the cursor over the specified component.Net Positions the cursor over a pad assign to the specified netPad Positions the cursor over the specified Pad.String Positions the cursor over the specified text string in the PCB file.Error Marker Positions the cursor over the next DRC error marker.Selection Zooms in on the selected group


13.9 Exercise – PCB Basics1. Open the document Z80 Processor Board.pcb

2. Turn off Visible Grid 2, set Visible Grid 1 to 0.05” and set the Snap Grid to 0.025”.

3. Place a Fill using the Place » Fill menu command. Observe that when you exit thiscommand the fill is in focus. Move the handles by instantaneously clicking on them. Movethe fill by instantaneously clicking on the object. Rotate the fill by instantaneously clickingon the circle within the fill. De-focus the object by clicking at a point away from anyobject.

4. Perform the View » Fit Document command on your PCB file.

5. Move a component by clicking and holding on it.

6. While you are moving the component, press the Spacebar to rotate it (Shift + Spacebar forclockwise rotation) and press the X and Y keys to flip the component in the x and y axes.

7. Select a group of components (Click and hold and then drag the cursor over thecomponents).

8. Select the Edit » Copy menu command to copy the selected group to the Clipboard (don’tforget the give the reference location).

9. Select the Edit » Paste menu command. The contents of the Clipboard will now be movingwith the cursor. Rotate and Flip the group as you did when moving a component. Place thegroup of components by clicking at the required location.


14 PCB Design Objects

14.1 General NotesThe object placement commands are selected using either the Place menu or the PlacementTools toolbar.

To set the properties of an object while placing it, press the TAB key and the properties dialogbox for that object will be displayed.

Once an object is placed, you can change its properties by double-clicking on it to display theproperties dialog box for that object. Alternatively, you can right click on the object andchoose Properties from the menu.

Set the default properties for each object type in the Default Primitives tab of the Preferencesdialog box (Tools » Preferences).

The current layer determines the layer the object is placed on.

Figure 31 PCB Editor Primitive Objects


14.2 Summary of PCB Design ObjectsFor an example of each PCB Design object open the PCB document PCB Objects.pcb in theTraining.ddb database.

14.2.1 Tracks

The Interactive Routing command in the Place menu (PT) is used to place tracks with netinformation associated with them. The Place » Line command is provided for placing linesother than tracks such the board outline or as part of as assembly detail. Design rules do notapply to the Place » Line command.

The Interactive Routing command can be accessedfrom the Place menu or this toolbar button.

The place line command can be accessed from thePlace » Line menu or this toolbar button.

There are six track placement modes:

1. Any Angle

2. Arcs on corners

3. 45 degree

4. 45 degree arc with 50mil radius on corners

5. Orthogonal

6. 90 degree arc with 50mil radius on corners

Each mode defines how a track is placed between two vertex points.

Simultaneously press the SHIFT key and the SPACEBAR (once you are in the interactiverouting command) to select a placement mode.

For Option 2, you set the arc radius by holding the , (Comma) to make it smaller and . (FullStop) to make it bigger.

In addition, the placement modes are supplemented with a Start Mode and a Finish Mode(see Figure 31).


Figure 32 Track Placement Modes

After you have selected the placement mode, you can press the SPACEBAR to toggle betweenthe Start Mode option and the Finish Mode option.

If a track starts at an object with a net assigned to it, the track will also be assigned the net.The interactive routing command will adhere to any rules assigned to that net.

Using Focus to Edit TracksWhen a track segment is put into focus, three handles appear; one at each end of the segmentand one in the middle. Below are the actions that can be performed:

To re-position a segment “end”:Place the cursor on one of the end handles

Click and release the left mouse button

Move cursor (and the attached vertex) to new location

Inserting a vertex in the track segment:


Place the cursor on the middle handle

Click and release the left mouse button

Move the cursor (the vertex will move with the cursor)

Drag the track segmentClick on the track segment away from any handles

Drag the segment to a new location

More Track Editing Commands:

Re-route:

Select Edit » Move » Re-route from the menu

Click on a track segment and then re-route

Break:Select Edit » Move » Break Track from the menu

Click on segment of track to insert a vertex

Drag End:Select Edit » Move » Drag Track End from the menu

Click on an existing vertex then move it


14.2.2 Pads

• Place using the Place » Pad command or or the toolbar button shown above.

• Pads are mainly used as part of components but can be used as individual objects such astestpoints or mounting holes.

Figure 33 Via Properties dialog box

• Pad properties are set in the Pad dialog box that is displayed by pressing the TAB keywhile placing the pad or double-clicking on a placed pad. This dialog box has a Propertiestab, a Pad Stack tab and an Advanced tab. (See Figure 33) In the Properties tab you can setthe pad size, shape, hole size, layer and rotation.

• If a pad is to have different sizes on the mid layers or bottom layer, check the Use PadStack check box. This enables you to edit the Middle and Bottom properties in the PadStack tab.

• The Advanced tab allows you to assign a net to the pad, define the pad’s electrical type(ie. load, terminator or source) and set whether or not the pad’s hole is plated. The NCdrilling software selects separate drill tools for plated an non-plated holes.


Test Point PropertiesPads can be assigned as Top and/or Bottom Layer Testpoints

14.2.3 Vias

• Vias can be placed using the Place » Via command or or the toolbar button shown above,but they are normally placed automatically when you change layers while placing a track.The auto-router also places vias.

• Via properties are set in the Via dialog box which is displayed by pressing the TAB keywhile placing a via or double-clicking on a placed via.

• The via diameter, hole size and Start and Finish layers are set in the Via Properties dialogbox.

Figure 34 Via Properties dialog box

Setting the Start and Finish layers to any layers other than Top Layer and Bottom Layerautomatically assign the via as a Blind or Buried Via. Blind and Buried vias can be easilyidentified as their hole is displayed as 2 half circles with different colours.


Test Point PropertiesVias can be assigned as Top and/or Bottom Layer Testpoints

Solder Mask Section

TentingChecking the Tenting check box causes any Solder Mask settings in the design rules to beignored.

OverrideChecking this check box allows you to override the Solder Mask setting in the designrules by filling in the required expansion in the field provided.

14.2.4 Strings

• Place using the Place » String command or or the toolbar button shown above. A String isa single line of text.

• String properties are set in the String dialog box that is displayed by pressing the TAB keywhile placing a string or double-clicking on a placed string.

• The actual text string to be placed is entered in the Text field.

• Note that the text field is a drop down box, click on the down arrow to select from the listof Special Strings that can be placed.

• When a string is in focus, it displays a smallcross at its placement point and a small circleat its right hand end. Clicking on that circleallows you to rotate the string by moving themouse.

Figure 35 String Properties dialog box


To assist in producing manufacturing documentation, the following Special Strings areprovided:

Special String Description

.ARC_COUNT Number of arcs in the file

.COMPONENT_COUNT Number of components in the file

.FILL_COUNT Number of area fills in the file

.HOLE_COUNT Number of holes in the file

.LAYER_NAME Name of the layer

.LEGEND Drill symbol legend (place on Drill Guide layer)

.NET_COUNT Number of nets in the file

.PAD_COUNT Number of pads in the file

.PCB_FILE_NAME PCB filename with full path

.PCB_FILE_NAME_NO_PATH PCB filename

.PLOT_FILE_NAME Plot filename

.PRINT_DATE Current date when the layer is printed.

.PRINT_Scale Scale the drawing is plotted at

.PRINT_TIME Current time

.STRING_COUNT Number of strings in the file

.TRACK_COUNT Number of tracks in the file

.VIA_COUNT Number of vias in the file

Table 15 PCB Editor Special String

Figure 36 Placing Special Strings

You place a special string using the Place » String command, but instead of filling in the Textfield in the Change String dialog box, you press the down arrow on the text field. Thisdisplays a drop down box listing the special strings as shown. Select the desired special stringand press OK to place it.


14.2.5 Fills

• A Fill is placed using the Place » Fill command or the toolbar button shown above.

• The Fill object is a solid rectangle and can be placed on any layer.

• To place Fill, the first click defines a corner of the fill and then the next click defines theopposite corner of the fill.

• Fill properties are set in the Fill dialog box that is displayed by pressing the TAB keywhile placing a fill or double-clicking on a fill.

• When a fill is put in focus, you can change its size by clicking and dragging its handles andyou can rotate it by clicking on the small circle

Figure 37Fill Properties dialog box


14.2.6 Arcs

The table below lists the Arc placement options:

Place Menu Command Placement Toolbar

Arc (Edge)

Arc (Centre)

Arc (Any Angle)

Full Circle

Table 16 Arc Placment Commands

• All of the above commands result in an Arc object being placed.

• An Arc can be placed on any layer.

• Arc properties are set in the Arc dialog box that is displayed by pressing the TAB keywhile placing an Arc or double-clicking on a placed Arc.

Figure 38 Arc Properties dialog box


14.2.7 Keepout Objects

Tracks, Fills and Arcs can be defined as layer specific keepouts by setting their keepoutproperty. They can be used to assign an area on a specific layer to be free of tracks andcomponents.

A keepout can be defined using the commands in the Place » Keepout menu that is alsodefined as a pop up menu assigned to the K short cut key.

Objects defined as keepout display with a coloured band around them and are ignored byoutput operations such as photoplotting and printing.

14.2.8 Room Definition

A Room Definition object is a rectangular region defining where components must be kept inor kept out of.

Components can be assigned to a Room Definition by:

• Designator

• Component Class

• Footprint

A Room Definition can either be assigned to Keep Objects Inside or to Keep Objects Outside.

A Room Definition object’s properties can be assigned in the Design Rules or by double-clicking on the object.


15 Cross ProbingCross Probing is a powerful searching tool to help you locate objects in other editors byselecting the object in the current editor.

Cross Probing is initiated by selecting the toolbar button shown above. You then select theobject to be located. When the object is selected, it is searched for in all other editors with filesopen. If the object is located, its is displayed in the centre of the workspace in the case of thePCB editor or the Schematic editor, or the object name is selected in the case of the Texteditor or the Spreadsheet editor.

The default settings for the cross probe command in the Schematic do not automaticallyswitch from the Schematic Editor to another editor.

To facilitate automatic switching from the Schematic Editor to another editor add the linelisted below to the parameter field of the Cross Probe toolbar command.

FocusWindows = True | Repeat = False

In the Schematic and PCB editor, you select objects by clicking on them. In the Text editorand Spreadsheet editors you select text and then choose the Cross probe command. Thefollowing applies:

Object Type Selected Action in Other Editors

Text Searches for that text

Text containing - (eg. U1-1) Searches for a pad

Text containing a comma (eg. 5.05,1.05) Searched for a co-ordinate

Table 17 Cross Probing Summary

Exercise

1. Open the documents Z80 Microprocessor.prj and Z80 Processor Board.pcb in Z80Microprocessor.ddb.

2. In the Schematic editor execute the command Reports » Bill of Materials to run the Bill ofMaterials editor.

3. Choose Next in each form that displays until you reach the form where you select thereport format. At this form check the Protel Format and Spreadsheet options and thenchoose Next and Finish.

4. In the Spreadsheet editor, click in the cell for C5and then press the Cross Probe toolbar button .

5. Switch to each of the editors currently open that C5 has been located in each of then.


16 Using the Help System

16.1 Help Menu A list of help options becomes available when you click on the Help menu. The options varybetween editors but Contents is always the first option and displays the Protel Help windowshown in Figure 39.

Figure 39 Help System Main Window


Clicking on the Contents, Index or Find buttons at thetop of the Protel Help window displays the Protel HelpContents panel (see Figure 40). The button you clickon will determine which tab at the bottom of this panelis active i.e. Contents, Find, Index.

The Protel Help Contents panel tabs are describedbelow:

Figure 40 Help System Contents Window

Tab Description

Contents Displays Help topics in the order they are arranged in the Help documents

Index Allows you to search for Help topics using index keywords

Find Allows you to search for Help topics by any word


16.2 Help AdviserClicking on the “?” icon at the right hand end of theStatus bar starts the Help Adviser shown in Figure41. This allows you to query the Help system byasking questions in normal conversational English.Include a noun and a verb to give the best result.

Figure 41 Natural Language Help Advisor

17 Using the Protel Web SiteThe Protel Web site is located at www.protel.com.Here you can obtain information about Protel’s products and services, including access totechnical information and Service Packs. It is a good practice to regularly visit this Web Site.

• Click on the Support option at the top of Protel’s Home Page to display the Support page.

• The Knowledge Base and FAQ’s are two of the options available on the Support page.Knowledge Base

A search engine is provided to search the knowledge Base by product, version and date.

General Tips for Searching the Knowledge Base

• Look for words with the same prefix e.g. enter Print* and you will locate print, printer,printed, printing and so on.

• Search for all forms of a word e.g. type sink** to find sink, sinking, sank and sunk

• Search with the key NEAR for multiple word searches e.g. type schematic NEAR part tolook for the words schematic and part on the same page.

• Refine your queries with the AND NOT keywords to exclude certain text from your searche.g. to find all entries of components but not the page containing the text “off regularly”write : components ANDNOT “off regularly”

• Add the OR keyword to find all instances of either one word or another

• Put quotation marks around keywords if you want to search for the complete phrase.

Report FormIf the information you require is not available you will be prompted to fill out and submit areport form.

FAQSChoosing the FAQS option displays a list of answers to frequently asked questions.